The Judo Skipathon was hosted on social media, where clubs challenged each other to promote empowerment, resilience and gender equality in a fun and engaging way. With over 200 participants from 20 organisations, the event celebrated the power of judo as a tool for social change, bringing together judoka and allies using the vehicle of sport.
A total of 20 organisations from 12 countries participated in the Judo Skipathon, including not only judo clubs but also a taekwondo club, a youth centre and a fitness centre. Clubs from Slovenia, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Germany, Spain, Pakistan, Croatia, Türkiye, Serbia and Brazil took part in the challenge. This broad international involvement demonstrated the unifying power of sport and highlighted a shared commitment to gender equality and empowerment.
The initiative received strong backing from the judo community, including Ms Neli Lorenzo, president of the Madrid Judo Federation, 2016 judo Olympic champion Tina Trstenjak, and European ID judo champion Azra Dedić.
Nuša Lampe, CEO of Judo Club Golovec and IJF Education & Coaching Commission member, highlighted the significance of using judo as a force for inclusion and empowerment. She remarked, "The Judo Skipathon was a wonderful opportunity to bring judo clubs together from around Europe and beyond to celebrate not only the sport but its core values of respect, discipline and empowerment. These initiatives are vital in promoting sustainable development and creating and connecting an inclusive global community through judo."